World Water Day, technological challenges and global commitments
The use of new technologies to supply water to the global population. Today, World Water Day, the topic that becomes more relevant
Global cooperation on water resources, equitable supply to the population, the development of technologies applied to this resource such as artificial technology (AI), are some of the points that come to the fore on World Water Day, today 22 of March.
Agreements and conventions for sustainable use of water
Among the international conventions and agreements on water resources and their management, the Albufera Agreement heads the list, between Spain and Portugal, in force since January 17, 2000. It is the Agreement on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Waters of the Hispano-Portuguese Hydrographic Basins, which was actually signed in 1998 and perfected with a Protocol for the Review of the Flow Regime in 2008, in order to “define for each hydrographic basin a regime of flows necessary to guarantee the good state of waters and current and future uses.
Also, significant is the Toulouse Agreement, between France and Spain, which operates under the background of the Helsinki Convention and the Water Framework Directive (WFD). It was signed in 2006 with the purpose “to coordinate in the best possible way the measures taken in the hydrographic basins located on both sides of the border, and on the other hand, to establish regular and followed administrative cooperation between the two countries regarding to the implementation of the DMA”.
The Helsinki Convention, signed in 1992, is officially called the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. The instrument entered into force on October 6, 1996. It establishes that the parties must establish specific bilateral or multilateral agreements, as well as the creation of the necessary institutions to address responsibilities related to “transboundary waters, providing a solid legal framework.” to cooperation on shared water resources within the UNECE.”
Another important organization is the Conference of Ibero-American Water Directorates and Authorities (CODIA), which brings together the “politically responsible for the management of water resources from 22 Ibero-American countries, with representation from different organizations in the sector.” It is made up of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Concern of the United Nations Organization for free access to water
The current challenges in terms of water, which involve geographical, logistical, climatic, technological, political issues, among others, accentuate the need for successful methods to satisfy the needs of the planet.
The UN points out that at least “40 % of the world’s population lives in shared basins.” Likewise, transboundary waters “represent 60 % of the world’s freshwater flows.”
On the other hand, the organization details that in the world, “153 countries have territory within at least 1 of the 310 transboundary river and lake basins and 468 inventoried transboundary aquifer systems.”
Cross-border collaboration agreements are essential to meet the goals of universal and equitable access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as improving water quality globally by 2030.
New technologies to improve water sustainability
Artificial intelligence (AI) is, without a doubt, a new and valuable ally to optimize the sustainability and efficiency of water resources. Siemens is one of the companies that stands out with solutions such as BuntPlanet and Siemens Water (SIWA).
These solutions use data collection for risk prediction and reduction, particularly related to flooding. Projections and simulations can put authorities on alert and avoid disasters.
It is also applied in methods to “identify leaks, detect pressure problems and optimize the complete flow of water”, which can reduce operating and maintenance costs, in addition to improving access to drinking water.
Demand management is, without a doubt, one of the most sensitive aspects. There, AI is applied to reduce waste “and meet water demand in the most effective way possible.”
M.Pino
Source: revistaeconomia
(Main reference image source: Unsplash+, in collaboration with Getty Images)
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